Ukrainian premier refutes alleged political repressions in republic

In October 2011, Timoshenko was sentenced to seven years behind bars for abuse of powers in signing gas contracts with Russia in 2009

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KIEV, May 13 (Itar-Tass) — Ukrainian premier Nikolai Azarov refuted alleged political repressions in the country and did not preclude a chance for Yulia Timoshenko’s treatment abroad.

He expressed this idea in an interview with the Euronews TV channel, which is quoted on Sunday by the Ukrainian mass media. Calling “unpolite” accusations of Ukraine of using political repressions, Azarov emphasized: “It’s enough to live in Ukraine at least several days to get convinced: there is no dictatorship in the country, and no political repressions are exercised.”

Turning to the situation with Timoshenko, the cabinet head did not preclude a chance that the question on her treatment abroad can be examined by the country’s leadership.

“If prestigious medical commissions say that there is no possibility in Ukraine to render her appropriate treatment, the Ukrainian leadership then, guided by humanitarian positions, can examine the question on her treatment outside the country,” Azarov underlined, adding that “it is necessary then, for sure, to change the normative basis and to change appropriate legislation”.

At the same time, the cabinet head noted that Timoshenko “was convicted not for political views, but for forging a false document, called a directive of the Ukrainian government, and, using this false document, she forced to sign a very disadvantageous and very unequal contract on gas with Russia”.

In October 2011, Timoshenko was sentenced to seven years behind bars for abuse of powers in signing gas contracts with Russia in 2009. Ex-premier serves her sentence in the Kachanovskaya penitentiary in Kharkov. She is now at the Kharkov railway hospital from May 9 where she takes a course of treatment under the guidance of a German doctor.